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In This Section
Sample Weddings
Exchange of Vows
Blessing of Rings
Exchange of Rings
Readings
Unity Rituals
Additional Rituals
Blessings
Style and Tone
Order of Service
Initial Consultation
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A blessing is a beautiful way to close a
wedding ceremony just prior to the declaration of marriage. It transfers the
emotional energy between the couple to those gathered to witness the public
affirmation of their bond. It allows for their friends and family to bestow the
gift of love and support for the pledges they have just exchanged to one
another. The couple may wish to invoke the blessings of the divine, the human
family or both. Religious or secular blessings are entirely appropriate
depending upon the beliefs of the couple. And of course, this selection of
samples is by no means exhaustive.
Religious
1.
(Non-denominational Theist) Let us pray. Lord,
help ____________ and ___________ to
always remember when they first met
and the strong love that grew
between them. To work that love into
practical things so nothing can divide them.
May they always speak words both kind
and loving, and may their hearts be
always ready to ask forgiveness
as well as to forgive.
Dear Lord, we place their marriage
into your hands.
Amen.
2. (Non-denominational Theist) May your mornings bring
joy and your evenings bring peace. May your troubles grow few as your blessings
increase. May the saddest day of your future Be no worse than the happiest day
of your past.May your hands be forever clasped in friendship And your hearts
joined forever in love. Your lives are very special, God has touched you in many
ways. May his blessings rest upon you And fill all your coming days.
3.
(Non-denominational Christian) May the love of God be above you to
overshadow you, beneath you to uphold you, before you to guide you, behind you
to protect you, close beside you and within you to make you able for all things,
and to reward your faithfulness with the joy and peace which the world cannot
give -- neither can it take away. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom be
glory now and evermore. Amen
4. (Non-denominational Christian) Dear heavenly Father
(or "Oh Lord"), our hearts are filled with great happiness on _____________ and
_________________’s wedding day, as they come before You pledging their hearts
and lives to one another. Grant that they may be ever true and loving, living
together is such a way as to never bring shame or heartbreak into their
marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and understanding, rid them of all
pretense of jealousy. Help them to remember to be each other's sweetheart,
helpmate, friend and guide, so that together they may meet the cares and
problems of life more bravely. And with the passage of time, may the home they
are creating today, truly be a place of love and harmony, where your spirit is
ever present. Bless this union we pray, and walk beside _________________
and ________________ throughout all their lives together. We ask these things in
Jesus name; Amen.
5. (Book of Common Prayer) Most gracious God, we give you
thanks for your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born
of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life. We
thank you, also, for consecrating the union of man and woman in his Name. By the
power of your Holy Spirit, your out the abundance of your blessing upon this man
and this woman. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let
their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their
shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in
their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in
their sorrows; in their life and in their death. Finally, in your mercy, bring
them to that table where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and
reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
6. (Book of Common Prayer) O God, you have so consecrated
the covenant of marriage that in it is represented the spiritual unity between
Christ and his Church: Send therefore your blessing upon these your servants,
that they may so love, honor, and cherish each other in faithfulness and
patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of
blessing and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. God the Father, God the Son, God
the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his
favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that
you may faithfully live together in this life, and in the age to come have life
everlasting. Amen.
7. (Jewish) The Seven Blessings
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Blessed are you,
Adonai, our God, ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the
vine.
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Blessed are you,
Adonai, our God, ruler of the universe, who creates all things in
your glory.
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Blessed are you,
Adonai, our God, ruler of the universe, who created mankind.
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Blessed are you,
Adonai, our God, ruler of the universe, who formed humanity in his
image, in the image of his likeness, and fashioned for him out of
his very self a mate for all eternity.
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May the barren land
rejoice and be glad when her children are gathered back to her in
joy. Blessed are you, Adonai, our God, who makes Zion rejoice in her
children.
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Grant abundant joy to
these beloved companions, as you gladdened your creation long ago in
the Garden of Eden. Blessed are you, Adonai, our God, who gladdens
groom and bride.
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Blessed are you,
Adonai, our god, ruler of the universe, who created joy and
gladness, groom and bride, songs of joy, delight and pleasure, love
and harmony, peace and friendship. Soon, Adonai, our God, may we
hear in the cities of Judaea and in the streets of Jerusalem the
voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the groom and
the voice of the bride, the jubilant voices of lovers from their
chuppot, and of youths from their feats of song. Blessed are you,
Adonai, who gladdens the groom and bride.
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8. (Hindu) Seven Blessings
1. May this couple be blessed with an abundance of resources and
comforts, and be helpful to one another in all ways 2. May
this couple be strong and complement one another.
3. May this couple be blessed with prosperity and riches on
all levels.
4. May this couple be eternally happy.
5. May this couple be blessed with a happy family life.
6. May this couple live in perfect harmony… true to their
personal values and their joint promises.
7. May this couple always be the best of friends. |
Secular
1. Bless
this marriage, as ____________ and ______________ begin their journey through
life together. May your home be filled with laughter and warm embraces. May you
find peacefulness and beauty, challenge, and satisfaction, humor and insight,
healing and renewal, love and wisdom, within your union. Cleave to one another
that you may always feel what you have is more than enough.
2. May the glory which rests on all who love, rest upon you, and
bless you and keep you, and fill you with happiness and a gracious spirit.
Despite all changes of time and fortune, may all that is noble and lovely and
true abound in your hearts and abide with you, and give you strength in all your
days together.
3. Life and
love are the greatest gifts bestowed upon humanity.
May your union grant you patience, tolerance, and understanding
as well as the passion and excitement every marriage should possess.
May you need one another, as a sign of strength.
May you hunger for one another, as a sign of fulfillment.
May you enchant one another, as a sign of harmony.
May you embrace one another, as a sign of unity.
May you support one another, as a sign of mutual independence.
May you continually rediscover your love in one another, as the greatest gift of
all.
4. May that wonder residing in all who love, reside in you and
bless you and keep you. May it fill you with joy and a compassionate spirit. May
all that is good and right and true, abound in your lives and abide in your
hearts through the changes of time and fortune. May your union be granted
harmony and strength forever.
5. Behold
our family here assembled. We thank you for this place in which we dwell, for
the love that unites us, for the peace accorded us this day, for the hope with
which we expect the morrow, for the health, the work, the food, and the bright
skies that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth.
Bless this marriage with all the gifts for which we give thanks this day.
Ethnic
1. (Irish)
May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow
May the soft winds freshen your spirit
May the sunshine brighten your heart
May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you
And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
and the rain fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again my friend
May God hold you in the hollow (palm) of his hand
May God be with you and bless you
May you see your children's children
May you be poor in misfortunes and rich in Blessings
May you know nothing but happiness
from this day forward
But rich or poor, quick or slow,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the joys of today
Be those of tomorrow. |
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2. (Irish)
I wish healing upon you
The healing of Mary with me,
Mary, Michael and Brighid
Be with me all three.
Fly with the birds of the air
Fly with the wasps of the hill
Swim with the sea-going whale
For they are swiftest
Be upon the clouds of the sky
For they are the rainiest
Be upon the river's current
Cascading to the sea |
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3. (German) With faith there is love, With love there is
peace, With peace there is blessing, With blessing, there is God, With God there
is no need.
4. (Native American) O Great Spirit, whose breath gives
life to the world, and whose voice is heard in the soft breeze: We need your
strength and wisdom.
Cause us to walk in beauty. Give us eyes ever to behold the red and purple
sunset. Make us wise so that we may understand what you have taught us.
Help us learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. Make us always
ready to come to you with clean hands and steady eyes, so when life fades, like
the fading sunset, our spirits may come to you without shame.
5. (Native American) Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place
To enter into the days of your togetherness
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.
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Blessings